I think you misunderstood that article. He was calling for the same kind of thing that Mitt Romney campaigned on. WRT taxes, he's arguing that increased tax revenue should come from limiting deductions (on higher income taxpayers) not from raising marginal rates.

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"I'll see you guys in New York." ISIS Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to US military personnel upon his release from US custody at Camp Bucca in Iraq during Obama's first year in office.

Your lack of understanding of the difference is both appalling and unsurprising.

That's a bit over the top.

Do I have a track record of dumbassery?

Based on discussions with my FIL I've been told that raising the rates on top earners is socialism but taking additional revenue from top earners via limiting deductions isn't. I'm not arguing that one should be done over the other. It just seems like everyone is ****ing the same chicken but calling it something different.

I saw that but it just didn't connect with me. Not that I need to understand it. Either approach makes sense IMO.

I just found it odd that one approach is socialism while the other isn't. In both scenarios the wealthy are playing by a different set of rules.

No, you're right to question that. Both are moves toward socialism, IMO, and are a testament to the success of the left's class warfare of the past few years. One is better for everyone economically, though. The other one gives a greater impression of sticking it to the man.

Here are two of my thoughts:

1. I don't like that we're only targeting higher income groups for increased revenue. I think the pain/sacrifice should be across the board, just like Bush's tax cuts were across the board. (There's far more revenue available through modest tax changes from the bottom 95% than there is from dramatic tax changes applied to the top 5%).

2. I fear that if the approach recommended in this article is adopted, democrats will just come along in a few years trying to increase marginal rates on the higher income groups on top of this revenue increase just because they'll still be able to demagogue the highly-visible marginal rate issue.

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"I'll see you guys in New York." ISIS Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to US military personnel upon his release from US custody at Camp Bucca in Iraq during Obama's first year in office.

No, you're right to question that. Both are moves toward socialism, IMO, and are a testament to the success of the left's class warfare of the past few years. One is better for everyone economically, though. The other one gives a greater impression of sticking it to the man.

JFC, not you too...

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"I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington

I also believe that a shared sacrifice is necessary to solve the problem.

I agree, too. That was the concept of "broadening the tax base" touted by Paul Ryan. The key, at least for me, though, is when should the tax base be broadened. I think there must be a time when it should be broadened, but I'm not sure when it should take place. Right now? In two years?

There are two key reasons for it must be. One is fiscal responsibility and generating revenue. The other is civic responsibility and a sense of togetherness.